Aussie, Kiwi and South Pacific Atheists

Breaking News! After successfully challenging the Commonwealth government in the High Court of Australia over funding for the National School Chaplaincy Scheme, Ron Williams is to take them on again. In an attempt to circumvent the High Court ruling, the government has passed some extremely questionable legislation which tears at the heart of parliamentary democracy and public accountability. Williams has consulted with his crack legal team and the decision has been made today (Saturday, 7 July) to mount another challenge.

Mounting a High Court challenge is extremely expensive and Ron Williams is just an average, suburban Dad. If all of us who care about a secular, democratic Australia can chip in as much as we can, it will help enormously. Please consider donating at:

This is your chance to be a part of making Australian Constitutional history!

Embiggen Books - Your Australian Atheist/Skeptical Bookshop

Embiggen Books, an Australian bookstore devoted to promoting science, philosophy, rationalism and skepticism is now on Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Warren Bonett and Kirsty Bruce of Embiggen are also passionate and active members of the atheist and skeptical communities.

Australian Atheist Issues

For new members, if you want to get a grasp of some of the issues effecting atheists in Australia, you might like to take a look at the Atheist Nexus (Australia) submission on "Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st Century" made to the Australian Human Rights Commission early last year. It's long, but easy reading, and worth spending some time on. A report, using information compiled from submissions, should be released later this year.

Atheist Meetup Groups - Australia

If you'd like to meet up with some local atheists, there's no better way than joining your local Atheist Meetup, Skeptics, or Freethought Groups:

THE MAIN adoption agency for infants in Sydney, Anglicare, has written to state MPs urging them to vote against a bill that would allow same-sex couples to adopt when it is debated in Parliament later this month.

The chief executive of Anglicare, Peter Kell, cites a child's need for both a mother and father among the 11 reasons why same-sex couples should not be given the same rights as heterosexual couples under adoption law.

''Men and women complement each other in their parenting roles as a result of their inherent physical, psychological and emotional attributes. Adoptive children should not be denied this opportunity,'' Mr Kell said.

The Independent MP Clover Moore said her amendments to the Adoption Act would overcome the ''double standards'' that allow gay and lesbian individuals to adopt, but not homosexual couples. Same-sex couples are also used as foster carers by the Department of Community Services.

Ms Moore said in the vast majority of cases, same-sex adoptions will involve step-parenting situations and ''known'' adoptions, where the child already has a relationship with the parent, such as a foster carer.

However, Mr Kell denied there was a double standard in same-sex couples being permitted to foster but not adopt, arguing ''a cautious approach is required where the decision is irreversible''.

The NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby says the Adoption Act is the last piece of state legislation that directly discriminates against same-sex couples and their children.

Last year, a Legislative Council committee recommended by a narrow margin that same-sex couples be allowed to adopt.

However, the committee also said faith-based adoption agencies should be exempt from anti-discrimination legislation, so long as they refer any same-sex couples who seek their services to another adoption agency.

Two of the three government-accredited adoption agencies in NSW, Anglicare and CatholicCare, have threatened to stop providing adoption services if they were forced to facilitate adoption by homosexual couples.

The 2006 census shows there about 1500 children living in same-sex families in NSW.

-- My own opinion is that gay couples of either gender should be able to adopt. There are several reasons why the position taken in "The chief executive of Anglicare, Peter Kell, cites a child's need for both a mother and father among the 11 reasons why same-sex couples should not be given the same rights as heterosexual couples under adoption law." is wrong. I'm sure all of us here are aware of ways in which the so-called ideal family is not ideal. I haven't got my thoughts together properly about this one--there are so many and I have other things to do at present. However, this surely is something we need to lobby about.

Poor old Danny Nalliah from Catch the Fire Ministries seems to be very concerned about Julia's election chances - her being an atheist and all. Let's reassure Danny that, yes, there are lots of us who will vote in a PM who is an atheist.

Rigbyt, the Australian Secular Lobby is very active and I'm sure they have made submissions wherever relevant. They also actively lobby politicians, including the Queensland Education Minister, in their home state. After working full-time at this for many years, I think they realised that more serious action was needed than submissions and lobbying as most of it seems to be falling on deaf ears. There will be more info to come and I'll post it here as soon as I can.

A number of the authors of our book will be donating their fee to the high court challenge. It's not much but it's a start. I've sent your email about the challenge on to my entire address book and will be donating this afternoon. Thanks for the info Chrys.

Breaking News! The High Court Challenge against National School Chaplaincy has announced its legal team.

Representing Ron Williams in the court action will be high profile barrister, Bret Walker SC (Senior Counsel). The importance of having the case represented by such a leading figure in Australian law cannot be overstated. Walker is one of Australia's leading barristers. He has been president of both the NSW Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia and Governor of the Law Foundation of NSW. He is Editor of the NSW Law Reports and Director of the Australian Academy of Law.

Walker will be supported by Gerald Ng, Barrister and the law firm, Horowitz and Bilinsky. The next step in the legal process is approaching, and further details will be released when it occurs.

People, this case is going to be huge and we're expecting some jaw-dropping revelations to be made about our politicians and education systems. Be a part of it. Please donate whatever you can afford at the High Court Challenge website. Ron has put the financial future of his family on the line for this and really needs our support. Besides, for a small (or large) investment, this is a chance to be a part of Australian history.

This is a serious, carefully considered and important step and it needs your financial support. All proceeds will go into a trust fund for the legal costs, not to Ron personally. Please go to the website High Court Challenge, read all about it, and contribute if you possibly can - every dollar will help. Donation using Paypal is now available.

By the way, if you haven't heard of Ron Williams, he's a very talented guy and committed secularist. For something a little lighter than the High Court Challenge, check out Ron's YouTube video: Why Don't Bees Go to Heaven?